Worst Weather

[DHPFLYN]

Lets change topics up a little. Just curious where people think the worst flying weather is located. It could be somewhere in the US or around the world.

Maybe it's always filled with thunderstorms or always turbulent. Who knows lets hear of places to avoid !!

 

[ultrarunner]

The ITCZ can really be a pain in the butt.

And of course Alaska flying challenges go without saying.

Severe wx in tornado alley over this time a year, as this past week showed is always bad. But with today's satellite down-linked weather, avoiding all that stuff is really easy.

 

[WNC Flyer]

Flying heavies in the USAF, I flown in most parts of the world. I'd say the worst low vis weather is in western Europe in the winter. Convective storms and crazy winds seem worst during the summer months in the southeast US, gulf region and caribbean.

Good thread.

 

[DHPFLYN]

Flying heavies in the USAF, I flown in most parts of the world. I'd say the worst low vis weather is in western Europe in the winter. Convective storms and crazy winds seem worst during the summer months in the southeast US, gulf region and caribbean.

Good thread.

I agree with you about the Southeast. It seems I am avoiding weather everyday down there. I always joke with my wife that the weather seems to get worse once it crosses Denver and heads east. I have to say it seems the older I have got the more I want to avoid the bumps. I swear I can feel every little jolt when I am DHD in the back. Sometimes prefer to be in the front when I know it will be turbulent atleast you can see it coming.

 

[Jar Jar]

But with today's satellite down-linked weather, avoiding all that stuff is really easy.

Satellite down-linked weather?! What airline do you work for??

This thread reminds me of a story a recently retired guy told me about how before onboard radar they would just drive at the weather, and when it got too bumpy they'd turn 90 degrees left or right until it smoothed out. Then they'd turn back in and try again.

 

[macdu]

Southeastern/mid-west U.S. TRW's, along with the Southeast Asia towering cu's. Turbulence over China and the most flown down to minimums approaches ever, do to smog/fog/coal issues.
5 to 10 minutes of mountain wave in the U.S. Pain in the ars. I think if you have flown the U.S. for a number of years from corner to corner you have seen the bulk of crazy weather flying the world has to offer. Excluding the high altitude stuff.

 

[Full of LUV]

Lets change topics up a little. Just curious where people think the worst flying weather is located. It could be somewhere in the US or around the world.

Maybe it's always filled with thunderstorms or always turbulent. Who knows lets hear of places to avoid !!

Lajes, Azores (LPLA) can be beautiful and 30 mins later it's mins and two inches of rain on the runway with 40 knot crosswinds. With only one divert (santa maria) within 1000 miles if your low on gas, can cause a bit of a pucker factor. Must have been a real experience in the old days before satellites where you would just arrive and hope for the best and lots of holding fuel.

 

[waveflyer]

Most extreme in states is Denver- between the spring storms that can dump 5 ' of snow and bury everyone's car to the tornadoes and TSs in the summer that you can set your watch by- + the nearly constant turbulence Over the front range and it's famous virga windshear at mid alts + blizzards in the winter- even the occasional cat III day- and can change on a dime- been based coast to coast and it's a nice place to live- but it can get you-

Never lived there, but Houston always seems to suck-
Sticky TSing mess-

Good thread- there's no reason to go east of any state that doesn't border the pacific in the summer-

 

[c9skytrain]

Azores for wind. Been grounded there for three days with out of limit winds.

Aleutians hands down for changing wx.

 

[DHPFLYN]

Stupid question but I'll ask it. I heard a United flight tell the control that they were getting "Mountain Waves". I honestly thought it was the same as turbulence just more likely over the monuntains.

I should say does it feel different? We fly into Denver but never go West of the airport so never go over the range.

Thanks

 

[CorpCaptain]

SBEG and MHTG. By far and away the biggest damn TS's i've ever been involved with. Not to mention the "One way in" approaches in Tegucigalpa. Having XM weather onboard helps monumentally. As for your question DHP, reference below:
http://www.pilotfriend.com/safe/safety/mountain_wave.htm

 

[Wesb737fo]

The Southeast ....at least last week. The Delta 75 about 40 miles ahead of us reported severe turbulence over Erlin ( 12000 ft). We didn't fair much better.

 

[b707guy]

Stupid question but I'll ask it. I heard a United flight tell the control that they were getting "Mountain Waves". I honestly thought it was the same as turbulence just more likely over the monuntains.

I should say does it feel different? We fly into Denver but never go West of the airport so never go over the range.

Thanks

Mountain wave doesn't have to be bumpy at all. Two years ago I was westbound mid-30s well east of the range and the nose eased over with absolutely zero seat of the pants feel into a 1500 fpm descent. Smooth as glass. Definitely got our attention! Strangest thing was that we were in clear air, but the clouds around us appeared to be well above us but we never once entered any cloud. The tops looked like snow-covered hills with crystal clear blue sky above. They were so well defined, actually raised a few hairs on my neck it was such an eerie look. Was waiting for the proverbial mountain goat to appear. Got into a few more over the next few minutes, but we were ready for them after that first one.

+1 on the Lajes thing, and another on the TCU in Southeast Asia. Who am I kidding - there's bad weather to be had everywhere! Just gotta be ready for it.

 

[satpak77]

Mexico City and surrounding area June to Sept. After 2 PM = NASTY

 

[AK737FO]

ADK and ADQ. Beautiful on good days, attention getting on bad days.

 

[DHPFLYN]

Just curious what ways most of you avoid the weather? The radar on the ERJ is horrible. Don't trust it at all. I myself check radar summary first to see where and how high the weather is then usually pull up adds weather and see where all the watch boxes are. Then check the pilot reports and see where the bumps are and try to avoid those areas.

Like I said not sure why but the tubulence had been bothering me more the longer I have been in aviation. I have been flying my whole life and grew up with aviation for some reason I have white knickled it more in the back than I have ever before.

I just try to avoid everything and picture my family and friends in back and know if I wouldn't appreciate a crappy ride they probably wouldn't either.

I have got crap from some F/O's about going so far around the weather but figure why go through it if you don't have to.

 

[XR650R]

Easy. Phoenix on a cloudy day. What a joke.

 

[satpak77]

Just curious what ways most of you avoid the weather? The radar on the ERJ is horrible. Don't trust it at all. I myself check radar summary first to see where and how high the weather is then usually pull up adds weather and see where all the watch boxes are. Then check the pilot reports and see where the bumps are and try to avoid those areas.

Like I said not sure why but the tubulence had been bothering me more the longer I have been in aviation. I have been flying my whole life and grew up with aviation for some reason I have white knickled it more in the back than I have ever before.

I just try to avoid everything and picture my family and friends in back and know if I wouldn't appreciate a crappy ride they probably wouldn't either.

I have got crap from some F/O's about going so far around the weather but figure why go through it if you don't have to.

eyeballs never failed me once. I am not fond of the guys "lets go thru it, I don't see anything in there (while fiddling with radar)", when in most cases a 10 degree left or right will take me completely AROUND it and even stay VMC the entire time.

 

[DHPFLYN]

eyeballs never failed me once. I am not fond of the guys "lets go thru it, I don't see anything in there (while fiddling with radar)", when in most cases a 10 degree left or right will take me completely AROUND it and even stay VMC the entire time.

I do agree but night takes alot of that option away besides watching lightning flash.

 

[CorpCaptain]

I've never understood pilots trying to eyeball weather once your up there. If your IMC and crossing a line TRUST YOUR RADAR. If you are uncomfortable with it, ask someone with plenty of experience to educate you. Good luck!